Cue tip



Patented Dec. l5, 1925.

UNITED STATES VIVCENT AJELLO, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

CUE TIP.

Application filed March 20, 1925. Serial No. 16,998.

To all whom t may concern.

Be it known that I, VINCENT AJELLO, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny' and State ofPennsylvania, `have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cue Tips;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactVdescription thereof.

My invention relates to tips for billiard cues and the like and to themanner in which they are secured to the cue stick.

One object of my invention is to provide a cue tip that may be morereadily applied to or removed from a cue than those heretofore employed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tip constructionembodying means for strengthening the end ofthe cue to which the tip isapplied.

Still another object of my invention is to simplify and -improvegenerally cue tip structures.

One foim which my invention may take is shown in the accompanyingdrawing wherein Fig. 1 is a view showing a portion of a cue to which myinvention is applied; Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsectional view'of aportion of the structure of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a similar view but showingthe position assumed by certain of the parts during the act of removingfrom or aiiixing a tip to the cue; 4 is a detail view showing one of theparts `entering into the structure of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a view lookingin the direction of the arrows, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is aview taken on the line 5-5 but looking in the opposite direction andFig. 7 is a detail view of another one of the parts entering into thestructure of Fig. 2.

In practicing my invention I may provide a cue stick 7 of usual formthat is of reduced diameter at its upper end, for the reception of aferrule or sleeve8 of ivory or similar material, to support andstrengthen the outer end of the member 7. The stick 7 is cored on itslongitudinal axis for a distance sufficient to receive a metal block 9that may be driven into position therein and which has a knurled portion10 to prevent turning thereof in its seat and to assist rin preventingits accidental withdrawal from the stick 7. A plug 11 is provided forclosing the lower end of the tubular portion of the block 9, such plughaving a drive fit with said block. The plug is provided with a socketor recess into which the lower flattened end of a threaded rod 12loosely seats, so as to have longitudinal but non-rotative-movement withrespect to the plug 11.

v A spring 13 surrounds the rod 12 and is held between the shoulder 12aof the rod and a shoulder 14 in the block 9. In assembling the partsjust referred to the spring is first placed upon the rod 12, the lowerend of the rod is slipped into the plug 11, and then the whole insertedinto the tubular portion of the block 9, the plug 11 having a drive litwith the block so as to be held against movement therein. The block 9and its contained parts are then driven into the end of the stick 7.

The tip proper consists of leather or simiing the tip 15 to its base 16a tubular pin 17 y is inserted through the opening at the center of thebase 16. This member 17 has a head that may be of ang'jularr form tohold it against rotative movement or may be held against such movementby the glue or cement that is employed for attaching the member 15 tothe member 16. The member 17 is screw threaded on its interior wall sothat it may be attached to the upper screw threaded end of the rod 12.

The block 9 is provided upon its upper enlarged end with a pair of teeth18 that are adapted to sink into the libre base washer 16 when the partsare in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to prevent rotative movementof the tip 15 with respect to the stick 7.

In order to apply the tip 15 to the stick, it is first brought to theposition shown in Fig. 3 and rotative movement imparted thereto to startthe threaded member 17 upon the threads of the rod 12. An outward pullis then exerted on the tip 15 to move the rod 12 upwardly against thepressure of the spring y13 so that the tip andits seating washer 16 maybe rotated without interference from the teeth 18 until it has beenscrewed in such distance that it will seat against the outer end of theferrule 8. Upon release of the tip 15 the spring 13 will draw it inwardso that the teeth 18 may be imbedded in the libre washer 16. The tip isthus firmly held against rotative movement.

When it is desired to replace a worn tip by a new tip, the old tip isgrasped between the lingers and pulled outwardly so as to compress thespring and permit the washer to clear the teeth i8. ri`he tip then isrotated to unscrew it from the rod 12, and a new tip applied in themanner above described.

rhe block S) is ot' such length that it entends into the stick 'i'beyond the lower edge oi' the ierrule 8 and strengthens the stick.Considerable loss has heretofore resulted 'trom breakage oit the sticksat the point where the lower end ot the r'errules terminate. The metalmember 9 prevents this loss and also provides a. firm seating surfacetor the washer 16.

l therefore provide a cue structure that is much stronger and moreserviceable than those heretofore employed, and one wherein tip renewalsmay be made with a minimum expenditure ot time, without in'ipairment oiits utility. The tip parts l5, l@ and 1'? are made into a unitarystructure and these units will be sold to billiard room proprietors andthe like so that the)7 can at all times keep their cues in goodcondition with a small expenditure oi' time and expense, since the costof the units so constructed is small compared to the time lost inrepairing cues by the old method wherein tie cues were out ol serviceduring the period required 'tor the glue to dry. lt has heretofore beennecessary 'for a billiard room proprietor to carry a large stock of cueson hand in order that he would have a suiiicient number in condition forservice while others were being repaired.

l claim as my invention:

l. rlhe combination with a cue stick, of tip structure comprising a.threaded member secured to the stick, means for yieldably holding saidmember against longitudinal movement. a tip, and a threaded membersecured to the tip and adapted to engage with the first-named threadedmember.

2. rihe combina-tion with a cue stick, ot tip structure comprising athreaded member secured to the stick, a tip, a threaded inember securedto the tip and adapted to engage with the first-named threaded member,means for yieldably holding one oi' said threaded members against axialmovement, and means for locking said tip and said stick against relativerotative movement.

3. 'Ehe combination with a cue stick, oi a centrally apertured metallicbushing secured to the outer end of said stick, a member disposed insaid aperture and threaded at its outer end, means tor preventingrotative movement olif said threaded member within said aperture, meansfor yieldably holding said threaded member against axial movement, atip, and aV screw threaded member carried by said tip for engagementwith the iirst-named screw threaded member.

e. The combination with a cue stick, of a centrally apertured bushinghaving a reduced shank portion extending into said stick at thelongitudinal axis thereoi and having a shouldered head portion seatingagainst the outer end of said stick, a threaded member within saidapertured bushing, means for preventing rotative movement oiz saidthreaded member, means for yieldably holding said threaded memberagainst movenient in an axial direction, a. tip, a screw threaded membercarried by said tip for engagement with the first-named screw threadedmember, and toothed projections upon the outer en d of said bushing toprevent rotative movement of the tip when said tip is in operativeposition.

In testimony whereof I, the said VINCENT AJnLLo have hereunto set myhand.

VINCENT AJ ELLO.

